Deal, or no deal: a political gameshow near you
We sent out a Kubatana email newsletter today to our large mailing list and we included a quote from Helen Keller that talked about the need for us to remember that its the actions of the “honest workers” that are just as heroic as those of our political leaders. I was reminded of Helen Keller’s quotation this evening. As the sun was setting we were still in the office when we were visited by two women, one of whom had recently suffered a miscarriage and lost a baby girl. But there she was bringing cold cokes, chips, biscuits and chocolates because she thought we could do with a treat to ease the hard work of election time. Thoughtful, kind and willing to reach out – needless to say we at Kubatana were inspired!
Tonight as I get frustrated messages from people wondering what exactly is going on I’m also reminded of how often citizens are the last to know anything whilst politicians make deals deciding our fate – for better or worse.
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 at 12:12 am
From Sokwanele:
In a Press Conference held earlier this evening, Morgan Tsvangirai made this statement:
The challenge of giving birth to a new Zimbabwe founded on restoration and not on retribution; on equality and not discrimination; on love, not war; on tolerance, not hate.
After Saturday 29th of March 2008, Zimbabwe will never be the same again; the people have spoken with one voice.
I would like to thank the millions who came to reclaim their dignity and invest in the change they can trust.
I’d like to thank the thousands in every corner of our country who braved the cold to come and make a statement on Saturday 29th March: from the mothers in Bikita, grandfathers in Tsholotsho, widows in Mpopoma, sisters in Kwekwe, school teachers in Zhombe.
In those minutes inside the polling booth, each one of us re-wrote the history of Zimbabwe. For that particular moment we each held the destiny of our country in the pen we used to cast that vote.
The votes cast on Saturday was for change and a new beginning. It was a vote for jobs; it was a vote for food, for dignity, for respect, for decency and equality, for tolerance, for love, and for trust.
Our people, therefore, cannot wait for the execution of that mandate.
I know that in moments such as this there is a temptation to short-cut processes, and to resort to opportunistic pathways. We will exercise restraint, and leadership, as we have exercised over the years.
Indeed, for years we have refused to resort to violent and unconstitutional methods of achieving democratic change.
Against great seduction and temptation, we refuse to be swayed away from the paths of democracy and social justice. That commitment to those values will not be betrayed now.
However, I have to urge the electoral authority that is the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, to proceed with haste, and I think two and a half days is not haste at all!
We, on our part, will tomorrow disclose the totals from our count based on published returns at polling stations. And will after that result make a comment.
Thank you.